Interlocking constructions and parts therefor or the like



y 1965 E. J. DE RIDDER 3,182,769

INTERLOCKING CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR'THE LIKE Filed May'4. 1961 FIG."

INVENTOR ERNST J. DQRIDDER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 182,7 69 INTERIJOCKING COEISTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Ernst J. De Ridder, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., 21 corporation of Delaware Filed May 4, 1961, Ser. No. 107,839 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invention relates to interlocking constructions and to the parts forming such constructions or the like.

In the .past various structural components have been formed by serially interconnecting together adjacent ends of like structural members by the adjacent complementary interlocking configurations of the members.

7 In general, each of these structural members comprises an outer flat panel having a pair of opposed ends, one of the'ends having a projection and having an inwardly extending leg cooperating with the projection to define a channel therewith. The leg has an outwardly extending end flange provided with a hooked-shaped end. The other end of the panel has an inwardly extending offset leg provided with an inturned flange that is adapted to be interlocked with the leg of an adjacent member by the hooked-shaped end thereof, the offset leg having an end portion adapted to be received in the channel of an adjacent member and having a channel-defining portion receiving the projection of the adjacent member.

Such members are interlocked together by inserting the projection of one of the members in the channel-defining portion of the other member whereby the members are initially disposed angularly relative to each other because the hooked-shaped end of the end flange of one leg engages the end fiangeof the other member. Thereafter, one of the members is pivoted relative to the other to align their outer panels into a common plane and cause the end flange thereof to be interlocked together.

However, it has been found that such an interlocked joint can be pulled apart by forces being applied in opposite directions on the adjacent pair of interlocked members, the forces being approximately 20% of the tensile strength of a corresponding sheet strip having the same cross-sectional thickness and formed of the same material as the interlocked members.

Thus, it is a feature of this invention to provide improved interlocking configurations for such members or the like whereby the joints thereof. have higher tensile strengths and can still be formed in a simple and effective manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved interlocking construction having one or more of the novel features hereinafter set forth.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved interlocking member for such constructions or the like. j f" 7 Other obejcts, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part theerof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary end view of a prior known interlocking member and illustrates the interlocking configurationthereof. I

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to'FIGURE 1 and illustrates a complementary interlocking configurationof an adjacent interlocking member. 1

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentaryend view illustrating the initial step'of interlocking together the members of FIG- URESlandZ. V FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE S' and illustrates the members of FIGURE 3 in their fully inter locked position. I 7

FIGURE 5 is a .view similar to FIGURE 4 and illus- "ice trates how the members of FIGURE 4 separate when forces are applied thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates one embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates the members of FIGURES 6 and 7 partially assembled together.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the members of FIGURES 6 and 7 in their fully interlocked position. 7

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

' FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates the members of FIGURES 10 and 11 in their partially interlocked condition.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the members of FIGURES 10 and 11 in their fully interlocked position.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 and illustrates still another embodiment of this invention.

While FIGURES l-5 illustrate the interlocking configurations of the prior known interlocking members, it is deemed necessary to fully illustrate and explain the problem that has existed in the past with regard to this prior known arrangement in order to better understand the present invention.

In particular, the prior known interlocking members 20 and 21 of FIGURES 1 and 2 are adapted to be interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to form the interlocking construction of FIGURE 4. However, it has been found that the interlocking construction of FIG- URE 4 is adapted to be readily separated in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 when forces are applied thereto in the directions of the arrows whereby the interlocking configuration of FIGURE 4 is adapted to be separated by a force approximately equal to 20% of the tensile strength of a corresponding sheet strip having the same cross-sectional thickness and formed of the same material as the interlocked members 20 and 21.

While the members 20 and 21 can have different complete configurations, each member 20 and 21 is identical to each other whereby FIGURES 1 and 2 respectively illustrate the opposite ends of the members 26 and 21.

For example, each member 20 and 21 has a flat outer panel 22 provided with a pair of opposed ends 23 and 23'.

Each end 23 of the members 20 and 21 includes a projection 24 having an arcuate surface 25 provided with a center of curvature at point 26 located on the plane of the outer surface of its respective panel 22. The end 23 of each member 20 and 21 also includes an inwardly directed leg 27 cooperating with the'projection 24 to define a channel 28 therewith and having an outwardly directed end flange 29 provided with a hooked-shaped end 30.

'Each end 23' of the members 20 and 21 includes an inwardly directed offsetleg 31 having an end portion 32 adapted to be received in the channel 28 of the adjacent member 20.; The offset leg 31 has a channeLdefining portion 33 which defines a channel 34 adapted to receive the projection 24 of the adjacent member 20. The offset leg 31 has aninturned end flange 35 adapted to be interlocked with the endflange 29 of the adjacent member 20. The members 20 and 21 are adapted to be interlocked together. in the manner illustrated in FIGURES by havmember 21 toward the member along an arc represented by an arrow in FIGURE 3, the end flange of the member 21 is adapted to snap past the hooked-shaped end 30 of the end fiange 29 of the member 20 to hold the members 2i) and 21 in an interlocked relation with the panels 22 thereof disposed in a common plane as illustrated in FIGURE 4. 7

When the member 21 is moved from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 4, the center of rotation of the member 21 is at the point 26 previously described, which is disposed on the plane of the upper surface of the panel 22 of the interlocking member 20. Such rotational movement of the member 21 relative to the member 29 is permitted by the arcuate surface 36 of the channel-defining portion 33 of the member 21 sliding along the arcuate surface 25 of the projection 24 of the member 22.

It has been found that the reason Why the interlocked members 20 and 21 can be separated in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 with a relatively small force is because the end portion 32 of the member 21 makes sliding contact With the projection 24 of the member 26 at a relatively large obtuse angle A as illustrated in FEG- URE 4.

This relatively large abtuse angle A formed by the sliding contact of the engaging surfaces of the end portion 32 and the projection 24 results from the arcuate surface 25 of the projection 24 having its center of curvature disposed on the plane of the outer surface of the panel 22of the member 2t).

Accordingly, it has been found by this invention that the smaller the angle A previously described, the larger the force required to separate the joint formed between the interlocking members. Accordingly, it was found by the teachings of this invention that the angle A can be reduced by moving the center of rotation of the adjacent members downwardly from the plane of the outer surface of the members.

In particular, improved interlocking members 37 and 38 of this invention are respectively illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7 and are adapted to be interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, to form the interlocking construction illustrated in FIGURE 9.

The interlocking members 37 and 38, in a manner similar to the interlocking members 20 and 21, each comprises an outer panel 39 having a pair of opposed ends 40 and 41 illustrated respectively in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Each end 40 has an inwardly offset projection 42 provided with an outer arcuate surface &3 which has a center of curvature 44 disposed a distance :1 below the plane of the outer surface of the panel 39 of the respective member 37 or 38.

A leg 45 extends downwardly from each end 40 of the members 37 and 38 and has an outwardly directed end flange 46 provided with a hooked-shaped end 37, the leg 45 cooperating with a slanting surface 48 of the projection 44 to define a channel 49 therewith.

Each end 41 of the members 37 and 38 has an inwardly directed otfset leg 50 provided with an end portion 51 adapted to be received in the channel 49 of the adjacent member 3'7 and an inturned end flange 52 adapted to be interlocked with an adjacent end flange 46 of an adjacent interlocking member in the manner previously described. The oifset'leg 50 includes a channel-defining portion 53 having an arcuate surface 54 provided with a center of curvature 55 disposed a distance a inwardly from the plane of the outer surface of the panel 39 thereof in the same manner that the center of curvature 44 of the projection 42 is disposed inwardly from the plane of the outer surface of its respective' panel 39. The channeldefining portion 53 of each offset leg 50 defines an outwardly facing channel 56 adapted to receive the projection 42 of the. adjacent member 37.

The interlocking members 37 and 38 are adapted to be assembled together in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 8, whereby the projection 42 of the member 37 is received in the channel 56 of the member 33, the member 38 being initially held angularly relative to the member 37 by the hooked-shaped end 47 of the member 37.

Thereafter, the member 38 is rotated or pivoted in the direction illustrated by the arrow in FIGURE 8 to cause the end flange 52 thereof to cam past the hookedshaped and 47 of the end flange 46 and interlock the members 37 and 38 together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9, the member 38 being pivoted or rotated during such interlocking movement about a center of rotation corresponding to the superimposed points of curvature M ami 55 of the adjacent sections 37 and 38 which are disposed inwardly from the plane of the outer surface of the panel 39 of the member 37.

After the interlocking members 37 and 38 have been interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, it can be seen, as illustrated in FIGURE 9, that a slanting surface 57 of the end portion 51 of the member 38 makes sliding contact with the slanting surface 48 of the projection 42 of the member 37 at an obtuse angle A, the angle A of the interlocking construction of FIGURE 9 being smaller than the angle A of the prior art interlocking construction of FIGURE 4 previously described. Thus, it can be seen that a greater force must be applied to the interlocked members 37 and 38 to pull the same apart than the force required to pull apart the interlocked members 2% and 21 previously'described.

Accordingly, the interlocking construction illustrated in FIGURE 9 provides a stronger joint between adjacent members 37 and 38 than the joint provided between the members 20 and 21, because the angle A of the interlocking construction of FIGURE 9 is less than the angle A of the interlocking construction of FIGURE 4.

It has further been found that if the angle A previously described is made less than. degrees an even stronger joint construction will be provided.

Accordingly, the interlocking construction of this invention illustrated in FIGURE 13 has a sliding A less than 90 degrees and is formed by interlocking together the interlocking members 58 and 59 of FIGURES 10 and 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Each member 58 and 59 comprises an outer flat panel 6%) having a pair of opposed ends Gland 62.

The end 61 of each member 58 and 59 is provided with an offset projection 63 provided with an arcuate surface 64 having a center of curvature 65 disposed a distance b below the plane of the outer surface of its respective panel 66.

An inwardly directed leg 66 extends from each end 6]. of the members 58 and 59 and cooperates with a slanting surface 67 of the projection 64 to define a channel 68 therewith, the slanting surface 67 of the projection 64 diverging away from the leg 66 as the leg 66 and projection 64 approach the paneled. The leg 66 is also provided with an outwardly directed end flange 69 having a hooked-shaped end 70.

Each end 62 of the members 58 and 59 includes an inwardly directed offset leg 71 having an end portion 72 and an inturned end flange 73. Each leg 71 has a channel defining portion 74 provided with an arcuate surface 75 having a center of curvature 76 disposed a distance 25 below the plane of the outer surface of the .panel 60 thereof in the same manner that the point 65 is disposed below such plane. The channel-defining portion 74 of each offset leg 71 defines a channel 77.

The members 58 and 59 are adapted to be interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12 by disposing the projection 64 of the member 58 in the channel 77 of the member 59, as illustrated in FIGURE 12, whereby the hooked-shaped end 79 0f the member 58 holds the member 59 in an angular position relative to the member Thereafter, the member 59 rotated or pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow in'FIGURE 12 to cause the end flange 73 thereof to interlock with the end flange 69, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 13, the member 59 being moved about an arc of rotation having its center formed by the superimposed points 65 and 76 of the members 58 and 59 which are disposed inwardly from the plane of the outer surface of the panel 60 of the member 58.

When the members 58 and 59 have been interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 13, it can be seen thata slanting surface 78 of the end portion 72 of the member 59 makes sliding contact with the slanting surface 62 of the projection 64 of the member 58 at an angle A which is less than 90 degrees. Thus, a greater force is required to pull apart the interlocked members 58 and 59 than the force required to pull apart the interlocked members 37 and 38 previously described.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the interlocking configurations of the members 37, 38 and 58, 59 of this invention are greatly improved over the prior known interlocking configurations of the members 20 and 21 whereby stronger joints are provided between the interlocking members of this invention, while the same are still adapted to be assembled together in a minimum of time and effort.

Any of the interlocking members of this invention can be modified in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 14 wherein the interlocked members 580 and 59a are formed substantially identically to the members 58 and 59 previously described. However, the leg 71a of the member 5941 is provided with an outwardly extending hookedshaped projection 79 adapted to be received in a complementary recess 80 formed in the leg 66a of the member 58a.

In this manner, when a force is imposed downwardly on the panel 60a of the member 59a the resulting force normally directed through the leg 71a to'the end flange 73a thereof which tends to cause rotation of the end flange 6% of the member 58a downwardly, as indicated by the arrow, is partially borne by the leg 66w of the member 5811, because the projection 79 of the leg 71a of the member transmits such force to the leg 66a of the member 58a. Thus, it can be seen that the modification illustrated in FIGURE 14 requires a stronger force to separate the members 5801 and 59:11 when a force is applied to the panel 60w of the member 59a thereof than would be required when the same is applied to the panel 60 of the member 59 of the interlocking construction illustrated in FIGURE 13. I

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. a

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pair of interlocked members each having an adjacent end and an outer panel disposed in the same plane as the panel of the other member, one

of said members having a projection offset inwardly from its panel at the end thereof and having an inwardly extending leg spaced from said projection and defining a channel therewith, said projection having an arcuate surface provided with a center of curvature disposed inwardly of the plane of said one member, the other member having an offset leg extending inwardly from the end thereof and having a channel-defining portion receiving said projection on said one member, said channel-defining portion having an arcuate surface disposed in sliding contact with said first-named arcuate surface whereby said members are pivotally movable relative to each other when being interlocked together, said offset leg 'of said other member having an end portion received in said channel of said one member.

2. In combination, a pair of interlocked members each having an adjacent end and having an outer panel disposed in the same plane as the plane of the other member, one of said members having a projection oflset inwardly from its panel at the end thereof and having an inwardly extending leg spaced from said projection and defining a channel therewith, said projection having an arcuate surface provided with a center of curvature disposed inwardly of the plane of said one member, the other member having an offset leg extending inwardly from the end thereof and having a channel-defining portion receiving said projection on said one member, said channel-defining portion having an arcuate surface disposed in sliding contact with said first-named arcuate surface whereby said members are pivotally movable relative to each other when being interlocked together, said leg of said one member having an outwardly extending end flange provided with a hooked shaped end, said offset leg of said other member having an inturned end flange interlocked with said end flange of said one member by said hook-shaped end thereof.

3. In combination, a pair of interlocked members each having an adjacent end and an outer panel disposed in the same plane as the panel of the other member, one of said members having a projection offset inwardly from its panel at the end thereof and having an inwardly extending leg spaced from said projection and defining a channel therewith, said projection having an arcuate surface provided with a center of curvature disposed inwardly of the plane of said one member, said leg having an outwardly directed end flange provided with a hooked-shaped end, the other member having an offset leg extending inwardly from the end thereof and having an end portion received in said channel of said one member, said offset leg having a channel-defining portion receiving said projection on said one member and being provided with an arcuate surface disposed in sliding contact with said firstnamed arcuate surface whereby said members are pivotally movable relative to each other when being interlocked together, said offset leg having an inturned end flange interlocked with said end flange of said one member by said hooked-shaped end thereof.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said legs of said members respectively have an interlocking tongue and groove arrangement.

5. An interlocking member having an outer panel provided with a pair of opposed ends, one of said ends having a projection offset inwardly'therefrom and having a leg extending inwardly therefrom and defining a channel with said projection, said projection having an arcuate pivoting surface provided with a center of curvature disposed inwardly of the plane of said outer panel, the other of said ends having an inwardly extending offset leg provided with an end portion adapted to be received in the channel of a like member, said offset leg having a channel-defining portion adapted to receive the projection of a like member, said channel-defining portion having an arcuate surface adapted to be disposed in sliding engagement with the first-named arcuate surface of a like member, said leg of said one end of said member having an outwardly extending end flange provided with a hook-shaped end, said offset leg having an inturned end flange adapted to be interlocked to said first-named end flange of said like member.

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,924 3/29 Kane 189-34 1,913,342 6/33 Schaffert 18934 2,180,317 11/39 Davis 189-34 2,512,662 6/50 Marini 23779 3,055,461 9/62 De Ritter 189-34 3,100,556 8/63 De Ritter 189-34 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. CORNELIUS D. ANGEL, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF INTERLOCKED MEMBERS EACH HAVING AN ADJACENT END AND AN OUTER PANEL DISPOSED IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE PANEL OF THE OTHER MEMBER, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A PROJECTION OFFSET INWARDLY FROM ITS PANEL AT THE END THEREOF AND HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING LEG SPACED FROM SAID PROJECTION AND DEFINING A CHANNEL THEREWITH, SAID PROJECTION HAVING AN ARCUATE SURFACE PROVIDED WITH A CENTER OF CURVATURE DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE PLANE OF SAID ONE MEMBER, THE OTHER MEMBER HAVING AN OFFSET LEG EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE END THEREOF AND HAVING A CHANNEL-DEFINING PORTION RECEIVING SAID PROJECTION ON SAID ONE MEMBER, SAID CHANNEL-DEFINGING PORTION HAVING AN ARCUATE SURFACE DISPOSED IN SLIDING CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST-NAMED ARCUATE SURFACAE WHEREBY SAID MEMBERS ARE PIVOTALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WHEN BEING INTERLOCKED TOGETHER, SAID OFFSET LEG OF SAID OTHER MEMBER HAVING AN END PORTION RECEIVED IN SAID CHANNEL OF SAID ONE MEMBER. 